Katie is a 24-year-old Saskatoon musician who blends R&B and indie influences to create a sound, she says, that is unique. In February, she’ll release her debut EP Towards the End. Here are six songs she considers favourites. /Gregory Beatty

“Sugah Daddy”
D’angelo and The Vanguard, Black Messiah (2014)

Three years ago I was working on a project with a friend and he brought this song up as a reference. Listening to it spiralled me back into my infatuation with D’angelo and his insanely intricate and subtle use of production and placement in his music. I try to carry that subtlety into my own work. YouTube

“Please Don’t Make Me Cry”
Lianne La Havas, Self-titled (2020)

I am in love with Lianne La Havas’ voice and songwriting. Regardless of the song’s style and production, her vocal tone always keeps her music sounding raw and emotional. YouTube

“The Truth’’
Moonchild, Please Rewind (2015)

I listened to this song non-stop in my last year of high school, going into university. I was obsessed with the vocal style, the horns, the plucky keys. I knew I wanted to make a version of neo-soul music after listening to this song and the entire Please Rewind project. YouTube

“Warm on a Cold Night”
HONNE, Warm on a Cold Night (2015)

I had this song looping endlessly in 2015 and 2016. I would drive around in the summer, past my curfew, and belt it out. The chorus is everything I’ve ever needed from a song. The harmonies are so fun, the hook is so catchy. Perfect! YouTube

“Thnks Fr Th Mmrs”
Fall Out Boy, Infinity on High (2007)

My parents have always been big influences on what I listen to and this song was from their hands to my ears. We had the Infinity on High CD in our car (along with Simple Plan, Billy Talent, Panic! at the Disco), and every second I was in that car I was screaming pop-punk/rock at the top of my lungs. YouTube

“When the Day Met the Night”
Panic! At the Disco, Pretty. Odd (2008)

Another staple of my pop-punk childhood. I remember being 12 and stealing the album cover out of our family’s CD so I could obsess over the lyrics and rewrite them in a songwriting book I had at the time. It’s so colourful and creative in its imagery, and I was in love with it and the possibility that I could write lyrics like that one day. YouTube